Italy foreign minister hopes closing Schengen unnecessary

(ANSA) - Brussels, November 16 - Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni said Monday he hopes France won't request closure of the Schengen Area in the wake of Friday's terror attacks in Paris.
    Gentiloni noted that temporary border closure under emergency circumstances is envisaged under the Schengen Agreement.
    "I hope not," Gentiloni said when asked about the possibility France may ask for a Schengen shut-down at a summit of EU interior ministers on Friday.
    Gentiloni added that in his view the terror threat can be contained with more police checkpoints and "collaboration between intelligence services". The Schengen Area comprises 26 European countries that have abolished passport and any other type of border control at their common borders, also referred to as internal borders.